Patricia is a retired priest in Diocese of Olympia with over 30 years of experience in working with clergy and congregations of all sizes, having served in the dioceses of Massachusetts, El Camino Real, California, Olympia and Maine. In this Diocese, many will remember her as the Rector of St. Stephen’s, Seattle where she served for 10 years prior to going to the coast of Maine to serve in a very different context. Her service in the church includes Standing Committee, Commission on Ministry, and Diocesan Council in a number of Dioceses. Just prior to retirement she provided leadership to the Diocese of Maine in reformulating Mission focus. She currently serves as coach, mentor or spiritual director to a number of clergy both locally and in Maine and California. She has also worked with Vestries or Bishop’s Committees on issues related to their missions.
What do you love most about being a congregational consultant?
I have a dream of a church that is led by clergy who are full of joy and purpose in their vocation.
My purpose is to help clergy grow and discover life-giving vitality in their vocation of leadership through individual or group coaching, mentoring or spiritual direction. I especially enjoy working with individual clergy and their leadership, getting to know in depth the unique gifts of each congregation and helping folks build on their strengths to continue to grow and flourish in ministry.
Where do you feel your strengths are as a consultant?
Working from an Appreciative Inquiry perspective, I am a great listener who is able to support clergy and lay leadership articulate their purpose and goals and work intentionally to bring out the best of the gifts that have been entrusted to them by God. I am a “glass half full” kind of person who sees the potential in every challenge for transformative change and present action.
What gets you excited to work with a particular congregation, or what are you looking for in a consulting job?
I love working with folks who want to engage in the creative process of change and transformation of ministry and their churches. It energizes me to be with people who “lean in” to their challenges and look for how Divine Love is inviting them to new life. It is privilege and an honor to accompany faithful people on this journey.